OT - If I owned a NFL team in the northern US...
 

I would build a dome with a retractable roof.

Miami coming to town in December? Open up the roof.
Jets coming to town? Keep it closed for ideal conditions.

You could totally screw with warm weather teams by leaving the roof open in the winter giving you the advantage, then close it when fellow cold weather teams come to town giving yourself ideal weather conditions.

Would this be feasible? I had this idea pop into my head on the drive home from work today.

I think the league would step in if they saw you doing this. I've been hearing more talk about how it's not fair for teams like Miami and Tampa to have to play playoff games in places like New England and Philly... so the league at least SHOULD step in if you werre an owner and did this..

waa waa waaaa, is what I have to say to that.

Then we shouldn't have to play early season games in the heat of Miami and Tampa.

Football's a sport that's losing it's balls and growing one big pussy.

Besides. You don't want to play a playoff game in New England or Philly in January? Then beat us in the regular season and get home field for yourself!

The league does have a rule on this. It was put in place for Houston's new stadium. As long as there isn't heavy rain with lightning, then the roof has to remain open. But that doesn't keep you from hiring the ex-con to drive the snowblower, ala the New England-Miami game a few years back!

actually, that has been banned now ;)

I have no problem with southern teams having to playin the frozen north in December. The advantage is obviously to the home team, but nothing is sweeter than last year seeing Packer fans and Eagles fans holding up signs that said, "Brrrr! Can ya feel the chill????" and then get pounded by the Falcons and Bucs respectively, who promtly jumped on airplanes and went back to warmer weather and leaves those snow birds with frozen tears on their faces hating those same very signs they loved, just moments before. :)

Football under no means should be played indoors, even if it's just under a temporary roof. Which leads me to rule #2, only real grass need apply.

Dola:

And we need a Super Bowl in New England.

I know most people would rather see it in Green Bay and all but I think Buffalo should be first on the list.

SI

I 2nd that, as long as I get to sit in the Jim Kelly Club with the heated seats :)

Are you sure Houston can't close the roof if the weather is really hot?

I enjoyed the NE game in all of that snow, that was awesome! Not fun too sit in, but I think it's worth it. Also, there won't be a Super Bowl in a northern city because of the potential for a blizzard. The Super Bowl is a money maker and a blizzard would completely shut a city down.

Speaking of the Superbowl, and the possibility of it being in a cold weathered city in the forseeable future, I've heard rumors that they are considering having it be in New York City or DC within the next few years.

Rich Stadium is a piece of crap.

Unless they've renovated since I was living there, Buffalo's got no business even thinking bout hosting a Super Bowl.

That they have, a couple of seasons ago they renovated. Heated seats are my fave :D I was just there for the Jets game last weekend, good times. Nothin beats throwin the pigskin around the parking lot in 30 degree temps 4 hours before kickoff :)


EDIT: It's Ralph Wilson Stadium now anyways :p

After 9/11 there was talk of doing this. Both cities bid on the Super Bowl. New York later withdrew their bid, prefering to hold off and try to put in a new bid with the planned stadium for the Jets (retractable roof I believe) as the host.

Washington left their bid in, and lost the bidding to a Southern Team... I forget which one though.

To clarify my point.. that's not my personal opinion, just what I think the NFL would do if a team was actually doing this. I've heard more people complain about the weather thing, so doing something like Chubby has thought of would probably be looked at more closely.

Personally, I love it when there's rain or snow falling during a game. :) Especially in a a playoff game, like the Raiders/Pats one a couple of years ago.

I thought the only rule on retractable stadiums was that the roof had to stay in whatever position it was in at the start of the game? Did they change that rule this season?

Has anyone noticed that the Vikes haven't got to the Superbowl since they moved indoors? Only ONE dome team won a SB? To quote George Clinton... "TEAR THE ROOF OFF THE SUCKER!!!"

Who says this is unfair? You earn homefield advantage, it should therefore be an advantage.

I believe the rule is that they have to keep it in the same position unless there are serious weather issues. So if you decide open, it's open. If you say closed, it stays closed.

PERFECT! I never wanted to open and close it during the game. Anytime a warm weather team comes to play and it's cold leave it open. If a fellow cold weather teams comes to play and they pass a lot and it's cold leave it open. If a fellow cold weather team comes to play and they run and it's cold close it.

I believe that's the only rule there is now, and it only concerns the position of the roof once the game starts.

The Superbowl should only be played in current NFL Stadiums and it should rotate amongst all teams.

Darn. I was looking forward to those Super Bowls in the LA Coluseum, the Saddledome, the Astrodome, and Wembley Stadium ;)

SI

Slightly off topic: I just attended the SU-Notre Dame game at the Carrier Dome two weeks ago and we were tailgaiting in 20 degree weather for three hours (outside) before going inside to watch the game! :D

you wasted $50 on that game?